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The Supreme Court Just Pushed Environmental Justice Even Further Aside

Summary

The Supreme Court's recent decision to eliminate the Chevron deference marks a significant shift in regulatory authority, potentially weakening numerous environmental protections. Chevron deference has long allowed courts to defer to federal agencies' expertise in interpreting ambiguous laws. The ruling transfers more power to the courts, potentially jeopardizing Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations on air and water pollution, toxic chemicals, and climate change policies. Environmentalists fear this change could lead to increased legal challenges against existing rules, undermining efforts to combat climate change and protect public health. The decision represents a victory for conservative efforts to limit federal regulatory power and raises concerns about the future effectiveness of climate and environmental regulations.

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October 10, 2024
Climate Change
Climate Change

In 2024, Houston has experienced 116 unauthorized air pollution events, with nearly half related to flaring from industrial facilities. These events, occurring every 2.5 days

October 10, 2024
Climate Change
Climate Change

Hurricane Milton struck Florida just two weeks after Hurricane Helene, exacerbating the state's recovery efforts. Milton made landfall as a Category 3 storm, causing widespread

October 9, 2024
Climate Change
Climate Change

A new study from Princeton University advocates for coal plant retirement strategies that prioritize climate and environmental equity, rather than just minimizing costs.

October 9, 2024
Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice

In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, a mobile solar microgrid was deployed to assist recovery efforts in Georgia. Managed by the North Georgia Conference of The United Methodist

October 9, 2024
Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice

FEMA is grappling with financial and staffing shortages as Hurricane Milton approaches Florida, just weeks after Hurricane Helene's devastation. Despite receiving $20 billion

October 6, 2024
Climate Change
Climate Change

An analysis reveals how Texas’ once-thorough air pollution monitoring team has been significantly weakened since the fracking boom. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s

October 4, 2024
Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has reached an agreement with Alabama's transportation department over claims that a highway expansion caused flooding in the historicall

October 4, 2024
Climate Change
Climate Change

Hurricane Helene's estimated damage cost has skyrocketed to $225-250 billion, making it one of the deadliest storms in U.S. history. The destruction spans from Florida to Tennesse

October 3, 2024
Climate Change
Climate Change

The Passamaquoddy Tribe at Indian Township, Maine, received $7.5 million from the EPA’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) program to develop a distributed microgrid. This

October 3, 2024
Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice

A carbon capture monitoring well at Archer-Daniels-Midland’s (ADM) facility in Decatur, Illinois, leaked CO2, but most residents only learned of it through media reports. The EPA

October 2, 2024
Climate Change
Climate Change

This article explores the ethical dilemmas surrounding "managed retreat," where local governments offer buyouts to residents in climate-vulnerable areas. While some communities

September 30, 2024
Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice

A shelter-in-place order affecting over 90,000 residents near Atlanta, Georgia, was lifted after a weekend chemical fire at the BioLab plant in Conyers. The fire produced a toxic

September 29, 2024

This article challenges misconceptions about the clean energy transition, arguing that it can spur economic prosperity rather than sacrifice. Ben Jealous highlights the success of

September 28, 2024
Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice

Richmond, California, a predominantly minority, low-income community, fought a 20-year battle for environmental justice, culminating in the creation of a protected public park at

September 27, 2024
Climate Change
Climate Change

Michigan’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy has updated its MiEJScreen tool, which maps how environmental contamination intersects with health